Electrode holder



J. M. RADABAUGH March 20, 1945.

ELECTRODE HOLDER Filed June 22, 1943 2 sheets-sheet 1 March 20, 1945.

J. M. RADABAUGH ELECTRODE HOLDER Filed June 22, 1943 2 Sheets-S1166?l 2.foi/1v M; RADA BA 116// Panarea Mer'. 2o, 194s UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE ELECTRODE HOLDER John M. Radabaugh, Mount Vernon, OhioApplication June 22, 1943, Serial No. 491,817

8 Claims.

This invention relates to electrode holdersfor electric arc welding andmore particularly to a holder of the clamping jaw type.

The object of the' invention is to provide an electrode holder, theconstruction of which isv ,such that the work engaging ends of the jawsmay be adjusted laterally toward or away from each other to clampwelding rods of different cross sectional-diameters and, after thedesired adjustment has been effected, one oi said jaws may be releasedto permit the removal of the welding rod or the insertion of anotherrod.

A further object of the invention is to provide an electrode holderincluding a supporting handle having yieldably supported channel-#shapedjaws operatively associated therewith and connected at their outer endsby a transverse pin, means being mounted in the channel of one or" thejaws and cooperating'with one end of said pin for effecting lateraladjustment of the jaw, and means carried by the other jaw and coactingwith the other end of said pin for releasing the jaws from engagementwith the welding rod.

A `further object is to provide the work-enl gaging end of each clampingjaw with a ,protecting guard or shield which prevents the ame `fromcoming in direct contact with the insulation and destroying the same` Astill further object of the invention is generally to improvethis'classof devices so as to increase their utility. durability andefficiency.

ln the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of an electrode holder embodying thepresent invention.

Figure 2 isa plan View.

Figure is a longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. l.

Figure 4 is a plan view with the adjacent side' plate broken away toshow the construction o' the jaw adjusting mechanism.

Figure 5 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig.2, and showing the jaws in clamping position.

Figure E is a similar view showing the jaws separated to permit theinsertion or removal di a welding rod.

Figure 'I is a plan view with the adjacent side plate in cross sectionand showing the construction of the push button and its associated.parts for releasing the jaws.

Figure 8 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 8-8 o1' Fig.-5.

Figure 49 is a similar view taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 5. i

Figure 10 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line Ill-I 0 ofFigure d.

The improved electrode holder forming the subject matter of the presentinvention comprises a cylindrical supporting handle 5 formed ofinsulating material and preferably of hollow construction to keep samecool under working conditions. Disposed rwithin the handle 5 is a me-utallic socket 6 in which is fitted an electric cable l, said socketbeing provided with a at extension B preferably projecting a shortdistance beyond the forward end of the handle, as shown. Riveted orotherwise secured to the dat entension 8 are coasting yieldable upperand lower jaws 9 and lil 'preferably channel-shaped in cross section, asindicated in 9, and having their outer or free ends providedwith`worlrengaging members Il formed with a series of longitudinal andtransverse grooves l2' adapted to receive and support a welding rod,indicated at i3.

Secured to the work-engaging members l I and extending longitudinally oivthe confronting faces of the jaws 9 and l0, are conductors lil, saidconductors having their rear ends electrically connected with theextension 8 of the socket member G. Loosely tted in the outer ends'otheI jaws Q and lli is a transverse connecting pin i5 having an enlargedhead I6 at one end thereof and a nutil at its other end. The jaws S andlll are normally disposed at a slight angle to each other and interposedbetween said jaws is a coil spring i8 for normally maintaining theworking ends of the jaws separated. The jaws e and :lll are providedwith detachable side plates I9 and 26, the side plate I9 being securedby a bolt 2i to a cam actuating member 22 and the side plate 2@ beingsecured to the jaw lll by a screw 23 extending through a spacing stud 2.

As a means for adjusting the working ends of the jaws toward and awayfrom each other to accommodate welding rods of different, crosssectional diameters, there is provided a sliding bar 25 mounted forlongitudinal movement between the side flanges of the channel ironconstituting said jaw and having its outer end slotted to formdownwardly inclined lingers 2B adapted to extend beneaththe nut il ofthe connecting pin I5 and force the working end of the'jaw ill towardthe working end of the jaw S. The intermediate portion of the slidingbar l2 is provided with a slot 2l which receives the stud 24 andextending laterally from the rear end of the bar 25 and pro` jectingthrough a slot 24' in the adjacent side plate 20 is a linger piece orknob 28 by means of which the sliding bar may be moved longitudinally toeect adjustment of the jaw.

The forward end of the actuating member-22 is provided with a cam 29 anda terminal openmating jaw and clamping both jaws in engagement with a,welding rod. l

2. An electrode holder comprising a handle,

ing which receives the head i6 of the transverse 6 coacting jaws carriedby the handle and operapin l5, sothat when downward pressure is exertedtively connected with a source ci electrical energy on the side platei9, the cam 29, by engagement a member loosely passing through andbetween with the channel iron constituting the upper jaw said jaws.means mova'oly mounted on one of s, 'will press the worlong ends of thejaws tosaid jaws for engaging one end ef seid member gethei" and thuseiectually clamp the welding 1 and adjusting Said law @Ward 8516i tre?1"@0111 position on the work-engaging members by screws of the jawl0,.the inclined ngers i@ of said bar j exerted on the side plate i9which causes the the mating jaw, means pivotally mounted on the otherend of said member for acting upon the mating jaw and clamping both jawsin engagement with a welding rod after said adi-c has been effected, andineens for rele clamping means to permit separat' 3. electrode holder wscarried by the handle ai rod between the woriing faces of said jaws.De'- peni-ing from the inner end of the actuating bar 22 e keeper Si?which coacts with a sliding latch- Ineinber El, latch member is in theform of raten will be moved 7rsion or the spring 33,

inwardly trai'isverselfd thereby to spring ser te the working ends ofthe jaws so that a we i g rod may be removed therefrom or placedtherein. it wiil thus be seen that the actuating member 2E carried bythe adiacent side plate i9 and. when seid side plate is depressed, thecam 29 will operate to clamp the jaws Ain engagement with a welding rodand, in which position, the side plate will he securely locked by meansof the latch and keeper previously described.

Fitted over the work-engaging members Si are channel-shaped caps 35preferably formed of in# sulating material and fitted over said caps arecorrespondingly' shaped metallic protecting shields 36 which sez-ye toprevent the ame from coming in direct contact the insulation anddestroying the same, the parts being secured in end ci' said cin andadjmitin'j said jaw toward and away from the mating jaw, means mountedon the other end ci the nl.. for acting upon the mating jaw and clampingsaid jaw aga-inst the tension ci the spring in engagement with a weldingrod, and aspring latch and keeper for holding said mating jaw in clampedposition.

4. An electrode holder comprising a handle, coasting jaws channelhapedin cross section carried by the handle and operatively connected with anelectric cable, a member passing through and transversely tween saidjaws, means slidably mounted in the channel of one of the jaws forengaging said member and adjusting said .jaw toward and away from themating jaw, a spring interposed between said jaws and urging the jawsapart, means mountedin vthe channel ci the mating jaw in pivotalengagement with said member ior clamping the mating jaw against thetension of the spring in engagement with a, welding rod, and means forholding the clamping means in a set position.

or similar fastening devices 3l.-

.It will thus he seen that by grasping the linger piece 28 and adjustingthe bar 25 longitudinally coacting resilient jaws carried by the handleand operatively connected with asource of electrical energy, said jawsbeing channel-shaped in cross section and provided with groovedwork-engaging faces, a'pin loosely connected with both jaws near saidwork-engaging faces and provided with terminal enlarged portions, a, barslidably mounted in the channel of one of the jaws and provided withinclined fingers extending beneath will ne forced beneath the nut I'iand thus permit adjustment of the jaw so as to accommodate welding rodsof diiferent thicknesses. After this ad- :lustment has been eiected,downward pressure is keeper 301:0 engage the latch 3| and lock the jaws1n set position. In order` to release the welding 'rod from the jaws, itis merely necessary to exert inward pressure on the button 34 which willrlease the actuating -member 22 and cause-the sprmg and the inherentresiliency of the jaws to separate the same and permit ready removal otthe welding rod, as will be readily understood.

From the foregoing description it is thought that the construction 'andoperation of the device will be readily understood by those skilled inthe art and further description thereof is deemed unnecessary. o5 Havingthus described the invention,what. is claimed is: 1. An electrode`holder comprising a handle, coacting resilient jaws carried by thehandle and operatively connectedwith a source of electrical energy, amember extending between said jaws and carried thereby, means slidablymounted on one of said vjaws forrengagin'g one end ofl said enginS theadjacent end 0f the pin for adjust' member and adjusting said jaw towardand away me saldiaw toward and away ffm the mating from the mating jaw,and means mounted 0n '75 111WA an actuating bar fitting in the channel0f ing the work-engaging face of said jaw toward and away from thework-engaging face of the mating jaw, means for manually adjusting said60 channel of the mating jaw and engaging the other enlargement of thepin, said actuating bar being provided with a cam adapted to engage saidmating jaw for clamping the jaw in `engagement with a welding rod.

6. An electrode holder comprising o, handle, coacting resilient jawscwrriedby the handle and operatively connected with an electric cable,said 4jaws being'channel-shaped in cross section, a 70 insulating sideplates for said jaws, means mounted in thechannel of one of the jaws andthe other end of said member for engaging said- 5. An electrode holdercomprising a handle,A

the adjacent enlargement of th'e pin for clamp.

bar, and an actuating member mounted in the pin forming a looseconnection between said jaws, V

said mating jaw and connected with the adjacent side plate, one end ofsaid actuating bar being pivotally connected with the adjacent end ofthe pin and the other end thereof yprovided with a depending keeper, anda spring pressed latch slidably mounted in said mating jaw and movableinto engagement with the keeper for holding said mating jaw in clampedposition.

'1. An electrode holder comprising a. handle, coacting jaws carried bythe handle and operatively connected with an electric cable, said jawsbeing channel-shaped in cross section, a pin forming a loose connectionbetween said jaws and provided with oppositely disposed enlargements, abar slidably mounted in the channel of one of the jaws and having itsforward end bifurcated to form inclined fingers engageable beneath theadjacent enlargement of the pin, side plates secured to said jaws, oneof said plates being slotted, a iinger piece secured to said bar andextending through the slot in the adjacent side plate, an actuating barpivotally connected with the other enlargement of the pin and secured tothe adjacent side plate, said actuating bar being provided with a camadapted to engage said mating jaw between the flanges of the channelthereof, a keeper depending from the inner end of said actuating bar,and a spring pressed latch mounted on said mating jaw and engaging thekeeper.

8. An electrode holder comprising a hollow handle, a socket fittedwithin the handle and having its rear portion attached to an electriccable and its forward portion projected longitudinally beyond the handleto form an extension, coacting resilient jaws secured to said extension,said jaws being channel-shaped in cross section. a pin forming a looseconnection between said jaws, means mounted in the channel of one of thejaws and engaging the adjacent end of the pin for adjusting said jawtoward and away from the mating jaw, and means mounted in the channel ofthe mating jaw and engaging said pin for clamping both jaws inengagement with a welding rod.

" JOHN M. RADABAUGH.

